Nathan Haas has left the uncertain Katusha-Alpecin to run for Cofidis next year, signing a two-year deal with the French team as it aims for the World Tour.

Haas joined Katusha in 2018 after two seasons with Dimension Data and his first three seasons as a professional with what is now EF Education First, but has struggled to get results. His only win came in the second stage of the 2018 Tour of Oman, and he has not been able to build on his fourth-place finish in the 2017 Amstel Gold Race.

The team has not yet guaranteed funding to continue in 2020, but Haas was already considering a move and liked the sound of the project developing in Cofidis under Cedric Vasseur, who took over as coach in 2018.

The French team, founded in 1997, is looking to return to the top class of the sport and has already announced its intentions in the transfer market with the signings of Elia Viviani and Guillaume Martin.

"I always liked being in a team that had a strong desire to progress, to get better and take the next step. Cofidis and Cedric Vasseur are exactly that spirit, and that's what attracted me to them," Haas said.

"What I like about this team is that they take chances in each race and give it their all with no regrets. In the Tour de France, they were in every breakaway group. Of course I want to run the Amstel Gold Race and the Ardennes Classics, but more than that, I want to help the team, especially Elia, achieve new successes."

Haas acquired Martin from Wanty Gobert and Viviani from Detuninck-Quick Step, as well as Fabio Sabatini (Detuninck-Quick Step) and Simone Consonni (UAE Team Emirates), two European He acquired two champion lead-out men.

He was the second Australian rider to ride for Cofidis after Stuart O'Grady, and the team noted that he spoke fluent French and would fit in quickly.

"Nathan is a rider who has developed over many seasons at the highest level and knows what winning tastes like," Vasseur said.

"We are very proud to have another Australian on our team. Nathan will bring us a new culture and different cycling know-how. He is a rider who is as comfortable in one-day races as he is valuable in Grand Tours. His experience will be an undeniable asset to the team as we take a step forward."